California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet)

CalVet works to ensure California's veterans get the benefits their service entitles them to. This website has information on topics including, but not limited to: Disability Claims, Education and the GI Bill, Employment, Healthcare, Housing, Advocacy/Assistance, and VA Home Loans. Users may also find information and additional services to minorities, women, LGBT, or incarcerated veterans. Register online to create a personal profile and receive information tailored specifically to you.

California Veterans Resource Book,
To view or download the annually updated, 200-plus page California Veterans Resource Book, click here:
The printed version, a paperback book, may be available at yourlocal legislators’ offices and at any of the County Veterans Service Offices (CVSOs) ).

County Veterans Service Offices (CVSOs)

CVSOs closest to Torrance are listed below. Services vary by location, and not all services are offered at each location. Please contact each office for details. A list of all CVSOs in Los Angeles County can be found here.

This is an online project of the California Veterans Memorial Project, supported not by state funds but by private donations. A free listing contains name, rank, and branch of service. More information may be added with a donation. Any veteran who considers California to be their home is eligible to participate.

Issued annually in May, this directory of information and services for seniors (age 50 plus) in Torrance is compiled by the staff of the Focal Point on Aging, a referral service operated out of the Russ Nolte Annex of the Bartlett Center at Cravens and Post Avenues in Old Torrance. The section entitled “Veterans,” on pages 245-252 in the 2018-2019 edition, gives a description of and contact information for selected national, state, and local agencies or organizations of interest to veterans. Click here to access the entire directory.

The following listings, not all with websites, are excerpted from the Directory issued in May 2019. Consult the full description in the online or printed Directory. The printed edition, plastic comb-bound, is available for reference use or for checkout (call for availability) at the Katy Geissert Civic Center Library, or for giveaway (while supplies last) at the Focal Point office.

1736 Family Crisis Center - Supportive Services for Veterans Families Program
1044 Figueroa St., Wilmington, CA 90744 866-249-3350 www.1736familycrisiscenter.orgSupportive services for veterans help veterans through outreach, permanent housing placement and case management. The program is VA funded and designed to prevent homelessness and/or rapidly house single veterans and/or veterans with families. Call for an eligibility screening over the phone. Outreach coordinator, Cliff Gardner, phone 323-770-2529 or cgardner@1736fcc.org.

Amada Senior Care310-953-0440 (24-hrs on call) www.amadaseniorcare.com
3812 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 200, Torrance, CA 90505 Hours: M-F, 8:30-5:30
As a contractor with the Veterans’ Administration, Amada Senior Care provides VA subsidized in-home care to veterans who can qualify for these benefits. They will conduct a complimentary assessment of eligibility and guide you through the process of getting the Veterans Administration to pay for services to assist with personal care, errands, light housekeeping, etc. Amada will help qualify for the benefit and provide the caregivers who assist you.

Geriatric Solutions Unlimited 310-403-3499 (24/7) www.freeseniorplacements.com
1601 N. Sepulveda Blvd., #136 Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Specializes in providing personalized free resources and information to seniors and families looking for alternative options in transitioning their loved one. Assists in process to find the right assisted living, memory care/Alzheimer’s care communities, residential board and care, respite care, and retirement communities, that will fit individual needs. The focus is to understand and personalize the best resource solution. Specializes in giving resources for VA veteran’s, Aid and Attendance application benefits. The free service includes Geriatric Care consultants that will visit, evaluate and assess care needs, establish location, which is comfortable for client and family. Establish what client’s social and personal interest and their budget. English, Spanish and Tagalog spoken.

Veterans in Crisis: 800-838-4357 (24/7)The organization is the resource and technical assistance center for a national network of community-based service providers and local, state and federal agencies that provide emergency and supportive housing, food, health services, job training and placement assistance, legal aid and case management support for homeless veterans.

National Organization of Veterans’ Advocates877-483-8238 www.vetadvocates.org
1775 Eye Street NW, Ste. 1150 Washington, D.C. 20006
A non-profit group which maintains an excellent directory of lawyers who practice veterans law. The easy-to-navigate directory is organized by state.

Veterans Administration Caregiver Support Line 855-260-3274 5 am-5 pm PST
Assistance in finding the appropriate support services for the veteran. www.caregiver.va.gov

Veterans Crisis Line – Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-273-8255 Ext. 1(24/7) www.veteranscrisisline.netA free hotline set up by the Veterans Health Administration giving 24/7 access to trained counselors who know what a veteran is going through. Provides support for veterans in crisis and their family and friends. All calls are confidential.

West Los Angeles Worksource Center 310-309-6000 Ext. 282 www.jvs-socal.org5446 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm
Veterans First program, operated by the Jewish Vocational Service of Southern California, provides career coaching to veterans, helping navigate the civilian business world. Will help assess job skills and, if needed, will help get additional education and training. The veteran must be under-employed with honorable discharge or general under honorable conditions. Open to all faiths and must live in the Los Angeles area.